
Latest Laois News: Free Webinars for Laois parents
Managing the Transition from Primary to Secondary School for Families of Children with Dyspraxia/DCD 17.5.2021 at 7pm
Booking: Here
Reducing Anxiety in Children aged 4-14 Years: FEARless Free Zoom Webinar for Parents 18.5.2021 at 7pm
Booking: Here
Transition from Primary to Post Primary for Students with Special Educational Needs (Parents Webinar) 31.5.2021 at 7pm
Booking: Here

Managing the Transition from Primary to Secondary School for Families of Children with Dyspraxia/DCD 17.5.2021
This webinar looks at the changing environments and challenges facing children with Dyspraxia/DCD during the transition from primary school to secondary school. The webinar aims to provide families with a greater understanding of the challenges their child may face during this transition. Pro-active planning and preparation will also be discussed.
Areas to be covered include:
· Reviewing new expectations and potential challenges children may face as they transition to secondary school.
· Ideas on how you and your child can prepare for these transitions.
· Strategies to help children adapt and succeed in their new surroundings.
· Discussion of the potential supports available during this transition.
Objectives:
· Participants will have a greater understanding of the challenges associated with the transition to secondary school.
· Participants will develop knowledge of a number of pro-active strategies to help their child plan and prepare for the transition to secondary school.
· Participants will have a knowledge of a number of strategies and teaching techniques to aid the student with Dyspraxia/DCD in the new Secondary classroom setting.
· Participants will have developed awareness of the supports and resources available to assist during the transition process.

Date: Monday 17th May 2021
Time: 7-8.00pm
Facilitator: Stephen Hodnett is a qualified occupational therapist and primary school teacher with over 10 years’ experience in the classroom, working in both mainstream and SEN settings. Stephen has worked with Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland and their members in recent times, including the development of the ‘Our say in our schools’ resource for schools by children with Dyspraxia/DCD
Reducing Anxiety in Children aged 4-14 Years: FEARless Free Zoom Webinar for Parents 18.5.2021 (Repeat)
Laois Education Centre in partnership with the Triple P Parenting Programme are
delivering a Fear-Less webinar on Tuesday 9th March from 7.00-9pm
which will offer Parents of children 4 – 14 years of age tips and strategies to help their
Children manage their anxiety and provide practical evidence-based tips for parents and
carers in these uncertain times.
Parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique challenge for all parents, caregivers and families. Children and parents are anxious, and families are under pressure like never before. Being a parent to a child/teenager who is experiencing anxiety can be tough.
Anxious children / teenagers can seek constant reassurance have outbursts of anger / frustration and can feel sick when worried. Parenting has a crucial role to play in mitigating the potential long-term negative impacts of COVID-19 on children, particularly in relation to mental health.

Date: Tuesday 18 May 2021
Time: 7-9pm
Facilitator: Deirdre Dowling, Triple P Practitioner
Transition from Primary to Post Primary for Students with Special Educational Needs (Parents Webinar) 31.5.2021
This year brings extra challenges for the transition to Post Primary School and many of these challenges will be forefront in parent’s minds as they try to get children ready for this change. We will explore the difficulties and challenges this transition may bring and will look at strategies that may help ease this transition and examine resources available to assist.
Date: Monday 31st May 2021
Time: 7-8.30pm
Facilitator: Facilitator: Annette Ormond, Grad Dip. SEN, M.Ed ASN. Annette is a primary teacher working in schools for the past fifteen years, a passionate lifelong learner and is currently completing a Masters in Educational Leadership in Waterford Institute of Technology. She has completed many different courses in the area of educating children with Special Educational Needs and has significant and varied experience in the area. She believes wholeheartedly in the difference we can make in the lives of people with many additional needs through our understanding and our knowledge. Annette has worked with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland for the past seven years and was awarded the IATSE Testimonial and Award for excellence in Support Teaching in 2017 when studying in University College Dublin
